U.S. patent number 9,656,401 [Application Number 14/501,550] was granted by the patent office on 2017-05-23 for personal-care appliance and method of assembly.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Gillette Company. The grantee listed for this patent is The Gillette Company. Invention is credited to Lee Burrowes, Paul Michael Jessemey, Kevin James Wain.
United States Patent |
9,656,401 |
Burrowes , et al. |
May 23, 2017 |
Personal-care appliance and method of assembly
Abstract
A personal-care appliance having a handle defining a cavity. A
fluid connector is positioned within the cavity. A fluid reservoir
is positioned within the cavity. The fluid reservoir has a
frangible seal that is spaced apart from the fluid connector. A
cover is mounted to the handle over the cavity.
Inventors: |
Burrowes; Lee (Woking,
GB), Jessemey; Paul Michael (Lambourn, GB),
Wain; Kevin James (Reading, GB) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
The Gillette Company |
Boston |
MA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
The Gillette Company (Boston,
MA)
|
Family
ID: |
47430102 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/501,550 |
Filed: |
September 30, 2014 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20150013166 A1 |
Jan 15, 2015 |
|
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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13590393 |
Aug 21, 2012 |
8887369 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B26B
21/528 (20130101); B26B 21/446 (20130101); B65D
17/50 (20130101); B65D 21/02 (20130101); Y10T
29/49826 (20150115); Y10T 29/49863 (20150115); B65D
41/02 (20130101); Y10T 29/49876 (20150115); B65D
51/20 (20130101); B65D 41/00 (20130101); Y10T
29/49865 (20150115); Y10T 29/4984 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
21/02 (20060101); B26B 21/44 (20060101); B65D
17/50 (20060101); B65D 41/02 (20060101); B65D
41/00 (20060101); B65D 51/20 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;30/41
;220/23.4,23.87,260,265,266,528,752,756 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Other References
PCT International Search Report with Written Opinion in
corresponding Int'l appln. PCT/US2012/068335 dated Mar. 8, 2013.
cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Afzali; Sarang
Assistant Examiner: Ford; Darrell C
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Pappas; Joanne N. Johnson; Kevin C.
Miller; Steven W.
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.
13/590,393, filed on Aug. 21, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,887,369,
incorporated by reference herein.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A liquid dispensing razor comprising: a handle defining a
cavity, the handle having a first end adjacent a razor cartridge
and a second end opposite the first end; a fluid connector
positioned within the cavity, the fluid connector including an
outer wall defining a tip disposed at a distal end of the fluid
connector, and an opening formed by the outer wall through the tip,
and a tip disposed at a distal end of the fluid connector; and a
fluid reservoir positioned within the cavity, the fluid reservoir
having an inner wall defining an opening and a frangible seal
within the opening; wherein the tip and the opening of the fluid
connector are positioned within the opening of the fluid reservoir
such that the outer wall of the fluid connector engages the inner
wall of the fluid reservoir and the fluid connector is configured
to allow fluid to pass from the fluid reservoir through the fluid
connector toward the razor cartridge to be applied to a surface to
be treated.
2. The liquid dispensing razor of claim 1 wherein the outer wall of
the fluid connector has at least one protrusion that engages the
inner wall of the fluid reservoir.
3. The liquid dispensing razor of claim 1 wherein the inner wall of
the fluid reservoir has at least one protrusion that engages the
fluid connector.
4. The liquid dispensing razor of claim 1 further comprising a
removable barrier between the frangible seal and the fluid
connector.
5. The liquid dispensing razor of claim 4 wherein at least a
portion of the removable barrier is positioned outside of the
cavity.
6. The liquid dispensing razor of claim 1 further comprising a
label secured to the fluid reservoir wherein at least a portion of
the label is positioned outside of the cavity between an outer wall
of the handle and a cover.
7. The liquid dispensing razor of claim 6 wherein the label
comprises a heat shrink film.
8. The liquid dispensing razor of claim 1 wherein the fluid
reservoir has an unloaded position such that the fluid connector is
spaced apart from the frangible seal when the tip and opening of
the connector are positioned within the opening of the fluid
reservoir, and a loaded position such that the fluid connector
penetrates the frangible seal establishing fluid communication
between the fluid connector and the fluid reservoir.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to liquid dispensing personal-care
appliances in general, and more particularly, to liquid dispensing
shaving razors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Skin care can be of particular importance in improving or enhancing
the appearance of men and women. Various products and methods can
be used to care for skin. For example, exfoliant scrubs, cleansers,
and lotions are sometimes used to maintain healthy-looking skin.
Exfoliant scrubs can be used to remove dead skin cells from the
surface of the skin, which can give the skin an improved tone.
Soaps and other cleansers can be used to remove dirt and excess oil
from the skin, which can help prevent clogging of pores.
Consequently, acne and other types of skin blemishes can be
prevented in some cases. Lotions and various other topical
ointments can also be used to deliver nutrients and/or moisturizers
to the skin in an effort to improve the appearance and/or the
health of the skin. Other types of cosmetic products (e.g., creams
and lotions) or drug actives are sometimes used in an attempt to
eliminate wrinkling and other signs of aging.
The shaving process typically includes the application of a shaving
aid material (e.g., shaving cream) to the surface and the separate
step of shaving the hair using a razor assembly. The shaving aid
material oftentimes includes at least one suitable agent (e.g., a
lubricating agent, a drag-reducing agent, a depilatory agent, etc.)
that enhances the shaving process. Most consumers find this type of
preparation to be rather inconvenient because of the need for
multiple shaving products, e.g., a wet shaving razor and a skin
preparation product, as well as the undesirable necessity for
multiple application steps during the wet shaving process.
Furthermore, this process can be messy and requires the consumer
rinse their hands after applying the shave gel. This multi-step
process also results in an overall extended shaving experience
which most consumers do not prefer given typical morning hygiene
routines. It may, however, be desirable to apply liquids of other
kinds to the skin before, during, or after shaving. It has been
found that especially in the case of males who shave facial hair,
it is important to provide a shave preparation of some sort prior
to shaving in order to adequately hydrate the coarser facial hairs
to allow for an easier and closer shave. It has been suggested in
the literature to provide a shaving razor with a built in
dispensing unit that releases a fluid (e.g., shaving aid) from a
fluid container. However, these razors do not provide for simple
and intuitive replacement and/or loading (e.g., activation) of the
fluid container by the consumer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the invention features, in general, a personal-care
appliance having a handle defining a cavity. A fluid connector is
positioned within the cavity. A fluid reservoir is positioned
within the cavity. The fluid reservoir has a frangible seal spaced
apart from the fluid connector. A cover is mounted to the handle
over the cavity. The personal-care appliance may optionally include
the fluid reservoir with an inner wall defining an opening. The
personal-care appliance may also optionally include the fluid
connector with an outer wall having at least one protrusion that
engages the inner wall of the fluid reservoir. The personal-care
appliance may optionally include a removable barrier between the
frangible seal and the fluid connector.
In another aspect, the invention features, in general a method of
making a liquid dispensing personal-care appliance by providing a
handle having a fluid connector positioned within a cavity defined
by the handle. A fluid reservoir having a frangible seal is
positioned at least partially within the cavity of the handle. The
frangible seal of the fluid reservoir is spaced apart from the
fluid connector. A cover is mounted to the handle and the cover is
secured to the handle concealing the cavity. The method may
optionally include positioning a removable barrier between the
frangible seal and the fluid connector.
The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set
forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other
features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the
description and drawings, and from the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A is a front view of one possible embodiment of a
personal-care appliance in a non-loaded position.
FIG. 1B is a partial assembly view of the personal-care appliance
of FIG. 1A.
FIG. 2 is a cross section view of the personal-care appliance,
taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1B.
FIG. 3 is a perspective of one possible embodiment of a fluid
reservoir that may be incorporated into the personal-care appliance
of FIG. 1A.
FIG. 4 is a front view of one possible embodiment of a pump
assembly that may be incorporated into the personal-care appliance
of FIG. 1A.
FIG. 5 is a partial assembly view of the personal-care appliance of
FIG. 1A in a loaded position.
FIG. 6 is a cross section view of the personal-care appliance,
taken generally along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure is not limited to wet shaving razors, or
even razors in general. It is understood that certain aspects of
the present disclosure may also be used for dry electric shaving
razors that have one or more rotating or reciprocating blades or
other personal care appliances (e.g., toothbrushes, depilatory
applicators, epilators, or other beauty applicators). Furthermore,
it is understood that certain aspects of the present disclosure may
be used independently for applying a liquid.
Referring to FIG. 1A, one possible embodiment of the present
disclosure is shown illustrating a front view of a personal-care
appliance 10. For example, the personal-care appliance may be a
liquid dispensing razor (as shown), a toothbrush, a mascara brush,
or any other personal-care appliance that dispenses a fluid. As
will be described in greater detail below, the personal-care
appliance 10 may include a handle 20 configured to receive a pump
assembly (not shown) and a fluid reservoir (not shown). The handle
20 may have a cover 22 that protects and/or conceals the pump
and/or fluid reservoir within the handle 20. The cover 22 may be
mounted to the handle 20 and removably secured in place (e.g., snap
fit to the handle 20). As will be described in greater detail
below, a removable barrier 200 and/or a label 220 may be positioned
between the handle 20 and the cover 22. In certain embodiments, the
removable barrier 200 and/or a label 220 may include a film (e.g.,
a thin piece of plastic) that is removed prior use. A liquid
dispensing cartridge 50 may be removably or fixedly mounted to the
handle 20. A shaving razor cartridge 54 may be pivotably mounted to
one end of the liquid dispensing cartridge 50. The shaving razor
cartridge 54 may have a cap 56, a guard 58 in front of the cap 56,
and one or more blades 60 between the cap 56 and the guard 58. The
liquid dispensing cartridge 50 may include a fluid applicator 62
for delivering one or more fluids to a surface to be treated (e.g.,
shaved). For example, the fluid applicator 62 may be mounted to the
shaving razor cartridge 54 (e.g., the guard 58) to apply and spread
the fluid to the surface to be treated (e.g., skin or hair) during
a stroke of the personal-care appliance 10 against the skin.
Referring to FIG. 1B, a partial assembly view of the personal-care
appliance of FIG. 1A is illustrated with the cover 22 removed from
the handle 20. The personal-care appliance 10 of FIG. 1B is shown
with the fluid reservoir 26 within the cavity 24 in an unloaded
position. A fluid (e.g., a lotion or gel) may be held within a
fluid reservoir 26. The fluid reservoir 26 may held permanently
within the handle 20 after the fluid reservoir is loaded (e.g.,
fluid communication is established between the fluid reservoir and
the fluid applicator 62). After the fluid is consumed, the consumer
may dispose of the personal-care appliance 10. Alternatively, fluid
reservoir 26 may be removed and replaced after the fluid is
consumed. The handle 20 may define a cavity 24 configured to
receive the fluid reservoir 26. In certain embodiments, the fluid
reservoir 26 may be a delaminating bottle or a sachet. In other
embodiments, the fluid reservoir 26 may be a blow molded or
injection molded plastic bottle. A fluid connector 100 may
removably engage the fluid reservoir 26 to establish fluid
connection between the fluid reservoir 26 and the fluid applicator
62. An outer wall 102 of the fluid connector 100 may seal against
an inner wall 28 of the fluid reservoir 26 to prevent fluid from
leaking into the handle 20. The fluid connector 100 may included a
tip 104 configured to pierce a seal (not shown) of the fluid
reservoir 26 to establish a fluid connection between the fluid
applicator 62 and the fluid reservoir 26. In certain embodiments,
the tip 104 may be beveled and/or angled (e.g., pyramidal, conical)
to facilitate the penetration of the seal.
The fluid reservoir 26 may be spaced apart from the fluid connector
100 in the unloaded position. In certain embodiments, at least a
portion of the removable barrier 200 may be positioned between the
fluid reservoir 26 the fluid connector 100 to prevent premature
engagement of the fluid connector 100 and the fluid reservoir 26.
For example, one end of the removable barrier 200 may include a cap
202 that is positioned between the fluid reservoir 26 the fluid
connector 100. The removable barrier 200 (e.g., cap 202) may be in
direct or indirect contact with either the fluid reservoir 26
and/or the fluid connector 100. At least a portion of the removable
barrier 200 may be positioned outside the cavity 24 prior to
mounting of the cover 22 to the handle 20. For example, the
removable barrier 200 may include a tab 204 that extends from the
cap 204 and is positioned outside of the cavity 24. The cover 22
may be mounted and/or secured to the handle 20 with the tab 202
positioned between the cover and an outer wall 25 of the handle 20.
The tab 204 may direct or indicate to the consumer to remove the
cover 22 and load the fluid reservoir 26 to activate the fluid
reservoir 26. In certain embodiments, at least a portion of the
label 220 may be removably secured to the fluid reservoir 26. The
label 220 may also direct or indicate to the consumer to remove the
cover 22 and load the fluid reservoir 26 to activate the fluid
reservoir 26. The label 220 may be positioned between the outer
wall 25 of the handle 20 and the cover 22 prior to mounting the
cover 22. The cover 22 may then be mounted and/or secured to the
handle 20 with the label 220 positioned between the outer wall 25
of the handle 20 and the cover 22. The label 220 may facilitate
retaining the fluid reservoir 26 in a rear position within the
cavity 24 to prevent the fluid connector 100 from inadvertently
establishing fluid communication.
Referring to FIG. 2 a cross section view of the personal-care
appliance 10, taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1B is
shown with the removable barrier 200 and the label 220 removed for
clarity. A fluid (e.g., a lotion or gel) may be held within the
fluid reservoir 26 positioned within the cavity 24. The fluid
reservoir 26 may have a frangible seal 30 to prevent contamination
(e.g., bacteria) of the fluid held within the fluid reservoir 26
and leakage of the fluid from the fluid reservoir. The fluid
reservoir 26 may be positioned toward the rear of the cavity 24. In
the unloaded position, the fluid connector 100 may be spaced apart
from the frangible seal 30. For example, in certain embodiments,
the fluid connector 100 may be positioned within an opening 32 of
the fluid reservoir 26, but not in contact with the frangible seal
30. The fluid connector 100 and/or the fluid reservoir 26 may have
one or more protrusions to prevent the tip 104 of the fluid
connector 100 from inadvertently contacting and/or penetrating the
frangible seal 30. The consumer may remove the cover 22 (not shown)
and slide the fluid reservoir to a forward position to penetrate
the frangible seal 30 with the tip 104 of the fluid connector 100.
The force required to overcome the interference between the outer
wall 102 of the fluid connector 100 and an inner wall 28 of the
fluid reservoir 26 may be greater than forces exerted under normal
shipping and handling conditions.
Referring to FIG. 3, a perspective view of the fluid reservoir 26
is shown. The inner wall 28 of the fluid reservoir may have one or
more protrusions 36 (e.g., an annular rib) that engage the fluid
interconnector 100. The protrusion 36 may prevent inadvertent
loading of the fluid reservoir 26. The protrusion 36 may also help
retain the fluid connector 100 within the fluid reservoir 26 once
the fluid reservoir is loaded (e.g, the frangible seal 30 is
broken). The label 220 is shown detachably secured to the fluid
reservoir 26. The label 220 may be a film (e.g., a heat shrinkable
film). For example, the label 220 may be positioned around and/or
secured the fluid reservoir 26. The label 220 may be secured to the
fluid reservoir by adhesive or by heat shrinking. In certain
embodiments, the fluid reservoir may have a groove 38 to hold the
label 220 in place. Heat may then be applied to shrink the label
220 securely to the fluid reservoir 26. A portion of the label 220
may be clamped between a pair of plates 300 and 310 during the
heating process. The plates 300 and 310 may act as a heat sink to
prevent shrinkage of at least a portion 224 of the label 220 (e.g.,
the portion of the label 220 that extends outside of the handle
20.
Referring to FIG. 4, a perspective view of a pump assembly 70 is
shown that may be incorporated into the personal-care appliance 10.
The fluid connector 100 (e.g., tip 104) may pierce the frangible
seal 30 of the fluid reservoir 26 (not shown) to establish a fluid
connection between the fluid applicator 62 (not shown) and the
fluid reservoir 26. Accordingly, fluid is directed within an
opening 106 of the fluid connector 100, which is in fluid
communication with a pump assembly 70. The pump assembly 70 may
include an elongated resilient tube 72 that pumps fluid from the
fluid reservoir 26 through a pair of valves (not shown) to the
fluid applicator 62 (not shown). The outer wall 102 of interconnect
member 100 may include a barrel 108 having with one or more
protrusions 110 (e.g., an annular rib). The protrusion 110 may
prevent inadvertent loading (i.e., piercing of the frangible seal
30) of the fluid reservoir 26. The protrusion 110 may also help
retain the fluid connector 100 within the fluid reservoir 26 once
the fluid reservoir is loaded. In certain embodiments, the
protrusion 110 of the interconnect member and the protrusion 36 of
the fluid reservoir 26 may provide feedback to the consumer
signaling the fluid reservoir 26 is properly loaded (e.g., an
audible click as the protrusion the protrusion 110 of the
interconnect member and the protrusion 36 of the fluid reservoir 26
slide over each other).
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the personal-care appliance 10 is
illustrated with the fluid reservoir 26 in the loaded position.
FIG. 5 is a front partial assembly view of the personal-care
appliance 10 with the cover 22 removed from the handle 20 to show
the fluid reservoir 26. FIG. 6 is a cross section view of the
handle 20, taken generally along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5 (with the
cover 22 mounted to the handle 20). The consumer may take away the
removable barrier 200 and/or the label 220 (see FIGS. 1A and 1B)
and slide the fluid reservoir 26 forward to the loaded position.
The fluid connector 100 may engage the fluid reservoir 26 to
establish fluid connection (e.g., the fluid connector 100 may
rupture the frangible seal 30). Accordingly, fluid is directed
within the opening 106 of the fluid connector 100, which is in
fluid communication with the pump assembly 70 and the fluid
applicator 62. The pump assembly 70 may include the elongated
resilient tube 72 that pumps fluid from the fluid reservoir 26
through a pair of valves 74 and 76 to the fluid applicator 62. The
outer wall 102 of the fluid connector 100 may seal against an inner
wall 28 of the fluid reservoir 26 to prevent fluid from leaking
into the handle 20.
An actuator 12 (e.g., a button) may facilitate pumping of the fluid
from the fluid reservoir 26 to the fluid applicator 62. For
example, the actuator 12 may compress the resilient elastomeric
tube 72 to open the first valve 74 and release a predetermined
dosage of fluid to the applicator 62. The actuator 12 may be
released to return the resilient elastomeric tube 72 to its
uncompressed state. The first valve 74 may close to prevent
contamination and the second valve 76 may open to fill the
resilient elastomeric tube 72 with fluid for the next release by
the actuator 12. The actuator 12 may also facilitate pivoting of
the fluid connector 100 for improved loading and unloading of the
fluid reservoir 26.
The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood
as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited.
Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is
intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally
equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension
disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm."
Furthermore, dimensions should not be held to an impossibly high
standard of metaphysical identity that does not allow for
discrepancies due to typical manufacturing tolerances. Therefore,
the term "about" should be interpreted as being within typical
manufacturing tolerances.
Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or
related patent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise
limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it
is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed
herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other
reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such
invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of
a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of
the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning
or definition assigned to that term in this document shall
govern.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been
illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in
the art that various other changes and modifications can be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is
therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes
and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.
* * * * *